Gulf Nashra Weekly Digest
The Future of Syria, Bahrain's Victory in the Gulf Cup, Kuwait's Citizenship Revocation Campaign, and Saudi Arabia's 2025 Budget.
Media Coverage
“Emirati billionaire to invest $20 bln in US data centers, Trump says,” Reuters, 01/07/2025.
“‘We're planning to invest $20 billion and even more than that, if the opportunity in the market allows us,’ said [Hussain] Sajwani, chairman of Dubai developer DAMAC, at Trump's Mar-a-Lago home.
DAMAC owns the Middle East's only Trump-branded golf course in Dubai, which opened in 2017”
Go Deeper: “Who Is the Developer Behind Trump's $20 Billion Data Center Pledge?” The New York Times, 01/08/2025.
“Kingdom approves 2025 annual borrowing plan with $37bn funding target,” Arab News, 01/05/2025.
“The projected funding requirement for 2025 is estimated at SR139 billion ($37 billion), according to a statement issued on Sunday.
The total encompasses two primary components: covering a fiscal deficit of SR101 billion, as highlighted in the Ministry of Finance’s official budget statement, and meeting the SR38 billion in principal repayments for debts maturing during the year.”
Go Deeper: “Annual Borrowing Plan Fiscal Year 2025,” National Debt Management Center. [PDF]
“Abdullah bin Zayed receives the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Syrian Transitional Government,” WAM Emirates News Agency, 01/06/2025.
“His Highness affirmed the UAE's support for the brotherly Syrian people and its support for all regional and international efforts that lead to achieving their aspirations for security, peace, stability and a decent life.”
“Saudi Foreign Minister Receives UNRWA Commissioner-General,” Aharq Al Awsat, 01/08/2025.
“Arab reactions continue after Israel’s publications of maps annexing parts of Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs slammed Israel’s ‘extremist’ acts that reflect Israel’s ‘intentions to consolidate its occupation and continue its flagrant violation of the sovereignty of those nations.’”
“Iraqi Authorities hand over Salman Al-Khalidi to Kuwait,” Alqabas, 01/01/2025.
“The operation began with the monitoring of the accused in the Republic of Iraq, after which a specialized security team was immediately formed from the Arab and International Criminal Police Department (Interpol) to coordinate efforts with the Iraqi authorities and the Kuwaiti embassy in Iraq.”
“Several prominent human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia released after overdue detention time,” Frontline Defenders, 10/10/2025.
“Mohammed Fahd al-Qahtani is a prominent Saudi human rights defender, academic, and co-founder of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA). The human rights defender was arrested in June 2012 during a wave of arrests of Saudi human rights defenders and activists. He was sentenced to a 10-year prison sentence, followed by a travel ban of an equal length on charges including “breaking allegiance to the ruler” and “questioning the integrity of officials”. The ACPRA was also disbanded by court order.”
“Lebanon to extradite son of late Muslim cleric al-Qaradawi to UAE, PM's office says, Reuters, 01/08/2025.
“Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi, an Egyptian-Turkish poet, was detained in Lebanon on Dec. 28 after returning from Syria, according to his lawyer Mohammad Sablouh and human rights group Amnesty International. His arrest followed critical comments Qaradawi made of the UAE, Saudi Arabian and Egyptian authorities in a video posted online. The UAE and Egypt have both filed requests for his extradition.”
“Here is the most important information about the Kuwaiti MP Muhannad Al-Sayer, who is accused in a state security case,” Al-Arabiya, 01/06/2025.
“Al-Sayer faces charges of undermining the powers of the Emir, spreading false news, and misusing communication devices by appearing in social media videos discussing the revocation of citizenships.”
Gulf Opinions
Over the past week, Gulf commentators debated Syria's future and the roles of external actors, including the GCC, the US, and the EU. In Asharq Al-Awsat, Saudi views diverged: Abdulrahman Al-Rashed urged Syria’s leaders to meet international conditions, while Tariq Al-Humaid emphasized the priority of internal Syrian dialogue. On the other hand, the Qatari Islamist-leaning commentator Abdullah Al-Emadi warned the current Syrian leadership about the Western and Arab focus on Syria. According to him, this focus stems from their anxiety over the Islamist character of the new Syria and their desire to shape it to their will. In Bahrain, Ali Aljazaf called for GCC support in Syria’s economic recovery while the Omani commentator Sadiq Allawati criticized Western powers for approached Syria’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) more positively than the way they treated the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Beyond Syria, Bahraini commentators celebrated their Gulf Cup victory. In Oman, local issues such as sports and taxation dominated the op-ed articles. As for Kuwait, Al-Jarida newspaper began publishing more critical opinions with regard to the ongoing Kuwait's citizenship revocation campaign that started in June 2024.
More Gulf Opinions:
On Syria:
“The ten priorities of the Cooperation Council in Syria”, Asharq Al-Awsat (KSA), Abdul Aziz Hamad Al-Awaishek, 01/09/2025.
“The collapse of the Syrian wall of silence”, Al-Qabas (KWT), Hamed Al Hamoud, 01/04/2025.
”The Arab future between reality and the superficial scene”, Alroya (Oman), Ali Al-Maashani, 01/06/2025.
“Syria between secularism and religion”, Al Watan (KSA), Mohammed Al-Saeedi, 01/08/2025.
“Al-Qaradawi... The danger of crossing in traffic!”, Asharq Al-Awsat (KSA), Mishari Al Dhaidi, 01/09/2025.
Other Topics
“Europe bears the burden of hosting terrorists”, Al-Bayan (UAE), Abdulaziz Al-Maamari, 01/03/2025.
“Income tax between what the community sees and what the government plans”, Oman (Oman), Hamid Al Busaidi, 01/06/2025.
“What after the sports federation elections?”, Asharq Al-Awsat (KSA), AbdulAziz Al-Ghayamah, 01/09/2025.
“Harvest 2024.. The year of major changes.. and the loss of leaders and ruling parties”, Al-Sharq (QAT), Abdullah Al-Shaiji, 01/05/2025.
“Management by cover!”, Al-Madina (KSA), Mohammed Al Balady, 01/07/2025.
Gulf Nashra Picks
Book: Crystal A. Ennis, “Millennial Dreams in Oil Economies, Job Seeking and the Global Political Economy of Labour in Oman,” Cambridge University Press, January 2025.
Podcast: “Behind the Scenes of Gulf Customs and the Bahrain Experience,” with Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamad Al Khalifa, President of Customs in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Socrates, Dec 14, 2024.
Podcast: “This Is My Happy Place," with John Pagano, CEO of Red Sea Global Group, The Mo Show, Dec 12, 2024.
Analysis: Sebastian Sons and Tobias Zumbrägel,“Saudi World Cup 2034: The Sports-Sustainability Nexus,” AGSIW, 01/25/2025.
Research: Steffen Hertog, “When rentier patronage breaks down: the politics of citizen outsiders on Gulf oil states’ labor markets,” 01/06/2025. [PDF].
Research: Bruno Schmidt-Feuerheerd, “Collaborative authoritarianism and its unintended consequences,” Democratization, 12/10/2024.
Research: Andrew Leber, “Personalization and domestic policy outcomes: evidence from Saudi Arabia,” Democratization, 01/06/2025.
Analysis: F. Gregory Gause, III, “A different Middle East: How should Washington respond?” Middle East Institute, 01/07/2025.